Why Play is Essential for Professionals

In a world that glorifies hustle and productivity, play is often dismissed as frivolous or childish. But what if the very thing we’ve been conditioned to outgrow is actually the key to our well-being, our creativity, and our resilience?

Not long ago, I was coaching a client, let’s call her Amanda, a high-achieving executive who’d hit a wall. She was burnt out, emotionally drained, and had lost all zest for the job she once loved. When I asked her, “When was the last time you did something just for fun?” she looked at me, puzzled. “I don’t even remember,” she said. “I don’t even know what I like to do for fun anymore.”

That moment struck me. Somewhere along the way, many professionals like Amanda, me included, traded joy for responsibility, spontaneity for structure. But science tells us that this trade-off is unsustainable.

The Psychology of Play

According to Dr. Stuart Brown, founder of the National Institute for Play, play is not a luxury, it’s a biological necessity. His research shows that play is required for human development and emotional health. Play improves brain function, leads to innovation, and strengthens relationships. It even helps us adapt to stress.

In fact, a study published in the American Journal of Play explains that play triggers the release of endorphins—our body’s natural feel-good chemicals—and reduces cortisol, the stress hormone. This means that play isn’t just enjoyable; it’s medicinal.

Psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, who coined the concept of “flow,” found that the most joyful and engaged states occur when people are immersed in activities that challenge them just enough to stretch their skills, without overwhelming them. Often, this sweet spot is found in forms of play—whether it’s dancing, painting, board games, or even improvisational speaking.

Play as a Path Back to Ourselves

When we play, we reconnect with our most authentic selves. We’re not performing, proving, or producing. We’re simply being. This is especially vital for professionals who are constantly “on”—managing teams, delivering results, and navigating high-stress environments.

Play gives us permission to feel alive again.

Consider this: children laugh up to 300 times a day. Adults? About 17. Somewhere along the path to adulthood, we start treating joy as something we have to earn. But joy is not a reward. It’s a resource. It’s like that old saying goes, “we don’t stop playing because we get old, we get old because we stop playing.”

It helps with family dynamics too. Let me tell you about a practice we put in place several years ago after working with a parenting coach. In order to offset tantrums, we started to devote 10 minutes each night for one-on-one play with each of our kids. It comes from Positive Parenting Solutions, and what the founder, Amy McCready, calls Mind, Body, Soul time. By giving each child time to play with us even just 10 minutes a day, we provide them with belonging and significance and build stronger relationships. Like magic, when we do this practice regularly, tantrums disappear.   Even my teenagers still love this practice. Last night I played Rumi with my 17 year old, Uno with my 16 year old, and Game Pigeon with my 9 year old.  I had just as much fun, if not more, than they did. But don’t tell them I told you that.  

Why We Resist Play

Often professionals struggle to embrace play because they fear it will make them appear not serious or amateur. There’s a deeply embedded cultural narrative that says success must come through sacrifice.  They’ll sacrifice fun and play to their mounting to-do lists.

But reframing play as a performance enhancer rather than a distraction can help us override that resistance. As Dr. Brene Brown notes, “The opposite of play is not work—the opposite of play is depression,” which is attributed to play researcher Brian Sutton-Smith.

If you’re burned out, disengaged, or just feeling a little dull around the edges, play might be your secret weapon.

Your Invitation to Reclaim Joy, Starting Today

If you’re ready to infuse more joy into your life, try these simple actions:

1. Schedule Play: Add 10 minutes of unstructured play to your calendar every day this week. It could be dancing to music, sketching, kicking a soccer ball, or playing with your pet.
2. Play With People: Call a friend and suggest something playful. Laughter is a shortcut to connection and energy. If in person isn’t possible, try something like Game Pigeon or Words with Friends.
3. Get Curious Again: Pick up a hobby you dropped or explore something new just for the fun of it. No goals, no outcomes, just curiosity.  Show up at a local pickle ball court or see if your city has a fun Ping Pong Bar like “Spin” in Seattle.
4. Build a Joy List: Write down 10 things that spark joy for you. Post it where you can see it. Do one thing from the list each week.
5. Permission Slip: Give yourself explicit permission to play. Write it down: I allow myself to feel joy and be playful, even as a professional.

You are not a machine. You are a whole, vibrant human being. When you allow play back into your life, you’ll find that the energy, creativity, and fulfillment you’ve been chasing have been waiting inside you all along.

Go on. Reclaim your joy.

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And if you are too burned out and overwhelmed to even begin to use any of these strategies it might be time to get some help. Find a coach, therapist, or doctor who can help you reverse out of the physical, mental, and emotional symptoms of burnout so you can get back to living in life you love.

Remember, Self-care isn’t selfish…it’s required!

Yvonne Lee-Hawkins, IPHM, is a holistic Leadership and Wellness coach, stress strategist, and writer, who spent 20 years in corporate and leadership functions. When she is not working, she loves to go on nature adventures with her family, in the Pacific Northwest where they call home. You can find out more on her website, or follow her on LinkedIn, Medium, or Instagram.

If you want some help creating small but impactful steps, or with general wellness, schedule a call here. 

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